Seek treatment if you suspect meningitis

September 6, 2012|By Dr. Otto Ramos

If your child has a high fever, vomiting, nausea, a sore neck and mental confusion, seek immediate medical treatment. Those are the most common signs of bacterial meningitis, a dangerous infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This is a serious condition that must be treated with appropriate antibiotics as soon as possible.

There are other types of meningitis that have the same types of symptoms but are much less dangerous for children, adolescents and adults. If an inflammation of the membranes is caused by a viral infection, injury or medication, for example, those worrisome symptoms may gradually disappear without special treatment.

Because proper diagnosis at an early stage is essential to identifying the cause of the inflammation, parents should pay close attention if a child with a fever, headache or nausea complains about feeling stiff in the neck or that the lights are too bright. Also, watch closely for signs of mental confusion, another indicator of meningitis. If a child is too young to speak, the doctor may look for abnormal reflexes or a bulging fontanelle (a soft spot on the head). Some infants may also lack their normal appetite or have trouble feeding or swallowing.

To diagnose meningitis, the doctor typically will take samples of the child's blood and the cerebrospinal fluid circulating within the spine. If the results show an infection, the laboratory will try to identify the type of bacteria, so the right antibiotic can be used to treat the condition.

Viral meningitis is usually a much less serious concern. In most children, the symptoms gradually disappear in one or two weeks with no further problems. For some reason, the number of viral meningitis cases tend to increase in the late summer and early fall.

Tips to prevent meningitisVaccinations are the best way to protect your child against three types of bacteria that can cause meningitis: meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is highly effective at preventing pneumococcal meningitis, and meningococcal immunizations are now available and FDA-approved for infants and children.

Other childhood vaccinations can protect children against diseases that can lead to viral meningitis, such as measles and mumps (MMR vaccine cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#mmr) and chickenpox (varicella-zoster vaccine cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#varicella).

It's important to understand that the meningococcus and H. influenza bacteria — as well as viruses — are present in respiratory secretions and can be transmitted when coughing or sneezing. They can also be spread by kissing or sharing food or utensils. Therefore, everyone in the family should practice good hygiene and health habits such as: • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick • Washing hands frequently • Cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces, such as kitchen countertops or the TV remote control • Getting plenty of rest

Neither children nor adults can tell the difference between bacterial or viral meningitis based on the way they feel. So if your child has some or all of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away.

Dr. Otto Ramos is the director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Miami Children’s Hospital.